Voyager now RAF's big bird

The RAF's largest aircraft has arrived in the UK for the first time. The new future strategic tanker aircraft has been named the Voyager.

At nearly 60 metres long and with a 60-metre wingspan, the dual purpose air-to-air tanker and transport aircraft is twice the size of a Lancaster bomber.

The Voyager, a converted Airbus A330-200 airliner, can carry 291 troops over 6,000 miles. It can refuel another aircraft in the air with 100,000 litres of fuel, more than that contained by two large petrol tankers.

Peter Luff, minister for defence equipment, support and technology, said: "The arrival of the first Voyager aircraft in the UK marks an important milestone in the process that will see the Royal Air Force equipped with the best available air-to-air refuelling capability, with the first due in service by the end of the year."